India’s new selection policy to choose shooters for Paris Olympics after Tokyo Games debacle – Firstpost
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has made key changes to its shooter selection policy for the 2024 Paris Olympics after the poor performance in Tokyo.
The Olympic Selection Trial (OST) for rifle and pistol shooters wishing to book a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics is currently underway at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi and it is important to note the difference in the selection policy this time compared to before. . Unlike previous editions, where shooters who won medals in global events like the World Cup and World Championships, brought bonus points in the OST, which gave them a big advantage. This time, only shooters who won Olympic quota places will receive bonus points. .
Here we explain why the change was made to the Olympic selection events and the specifics of the new process.
Why were the selection criteria changed?
The main reason why the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) changed the selection criteria is the poor performance of the Indian team in the Tokyo Olympics, where 15 shooters participated but failed to win a single medal. It was felt that out-of-form athletes were sent to Tokyo due to a flawed selection process that gave more weight to medals in the past compared to current form.
“Before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there were too many extra points. And, based on their form before Tokyo, shooters who were far from their best still competed at the Games based on the points they had accumulated (at national trials, international competitions like the Cup of the world, etc.),” said NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia. PTI
last year, when news broke that the selection policy might be changed.
“Some shooters were 5-6 points ahead because of this padding and we couldn’t do anything because they had numbers against other competitors.”
The NRAI believes that with bonus points awarded only for winning the Olympic quota, the new trial process will create a level playing field and allow the federation to send its fittest shooters to the Paris 2024 Olympics .
What is the new OST process?
As per the new selection testing policy of NRAI, a series of four trials will be conducted in each category, but the scores of the best three trials will be considered only. A shooter’s final average score will include the average of the best three trial scores and quota points. Please remember that quota points will only be awarded to shooters who have won the Olympic quota places. Air pistol and air rifle shooters who won the Olympic quota will receive one bonus point while 50m rifle and 25m pistol shooters will receive two bonus points.
India has won 20 Olympic quota places so far, including a maximum of eight each in rifle and pistol shooting and four in shotgun.
At the trials, only five shooters are eligible to compete in each category, including the two quota winners and three other top shooters based on national ranking and Olympic qualifying ranking.
The first two phases will be held in New Delhi from April 18 to 27, followed by the third and fourth phases at the MP Shooting Academy from May 10 to 19.
